RAFAEL BENITEZ has seen the bigger picture at Anfield now, and it's no oil painting.

RAFAEL BENITEZ has seen the bigger picture at Anfield now, and it's no oil painting.

If only he had a blank canvas to work with. Instead, the blots on the landscape which forced the club to turn to him for help have become more visible with each away game.

The Spanish coach could be forgiven for pointing a finger elsewhere when asked why Liverpool still linger far below the artists of Chelsea or Arsenal.

When quizzed post-match why Liverpool could only manage one shot on target at Stamford Bridge, Benitez would be entitled to say: 'it has nothing to do with me, I've only just got here'.

Instead, the Spanish coach remained positive in the face of another away defeat, insisting he was 'happy' with his squad..

He deserves ten out of ten for tolerance.

One suspects his opposite number Jose Mourinho wouldn't be so charitable. The Portuguese coach revealed before the game he'd been the subject of an approach from Liverpool last season.

Whether that's true or not, one wonders how the path of this match would have changed if each manager was in the opposite dug-out.

Surely, not much. "There are similarities in that we have both taken over big clubs, but there are also differences," Benitez said before kick-off.

Another understatement. Mourinho has inherited zillions in cash and the chance to play fantasy football league, plucking Europe's best players like apples from a tree.

Benitez was left an underachieving squad, no depth, players so unworthy of a chance they've been loaned out and the sale of his top scorer.

And if that wasn't enough, the man who left him what he's got - Gerard Houllier - has been present at every match, working for French TV while Benitez picks up the pieces.

Although he'll publicly defend his players, rest assured Benitez is far from content behind the scenes and will be carrying a begging bowl when the transfer window reopens.

The five changes he made to the starting line-up revealed he's a manager who knows there are fundamental problems in the balance of his team away from home. Bosses who truly have faith in their team want settled line-ups. It may be years before Benitez has such a luxury.

The need to find Harry Kewell's form took the Aussie into a more forward role. Djimi Traore was added to the team to offer height and aggression.

Salif Diao's months in the wilderness ended with a job as Xabi Alonso's bodyguard. And Luis Garcia was asked to get involved in midfield rather than float anonymously in attack.

For 45 minutes, there was an improvement of sorts. The aggression was certainly there and there were signs Djibril Cisse had discovered the meaning of hard work.

But even when Liverpool were doing well, the best they could hope for was a 0-0 draw.

Under the circumstances, that would have been a great result.

However, this is not what Benitez came to Anfield for. He simply has no choice because of the lack of quality at his disposal.

The longer the game went on, the tougher it got and the more encouraging performances faded into a distant memory.

Diao had a good first half but disappeared in the second. Garcia continues to look a different player once he leaves Merseyside, Cisse stopped being a menace.

The midfield didn't bother to come out for the second half, full stop. Even Xabi's golden touch deserted him, especially those infuriating free-kicks.

It was left to the likes of Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia to try to keep Chelsea at bay.

The duo didn't deserve to be on the losing side, but eventually succumbed to the same old vulnerability. A set-piece, not even a good one at that, allowed Cole to claim the winner.

In many respect, one lapse in concentration was the difference between a depressing result and an encouraging one.

The same could be said at Old Trafford and Olympiakos, where corners and free-kicks led to a loss, even if the performances were dreadful.

Liverpool fought much harder here against a top class team.

What's more significant, however, is that they still have to play like this against the top sides. Benitez has no option, but it's a harrowing acknowledgement of where the club actually is today.

Liverpool are way behind Chelsea. That's why Benitez is here and that's why for the immediate future he'll be arranging tactics at venues such as this based on organisation, grit, effort and aggression more than technical ability.

It's come to this, not because Liverpool have lost four consecutive away games, but because the squad simply isn't good enough.

Things will only get better when Benitez brings his own players in, ships out those he doesn't want, and moulds class with the Carraghers and Gerrards of this world.

Sadly, it was always going to get worse before it got better. The fans knew it, they just hoped to delay the reality check until later in the season.

Some late substitutions almost brought an unlikely point. Steve Finnan forced Petr Cech into his only save, but once ahead Chelsea looked more likely to double their advantage on the break.

They say a good workman never blames his tools, which is why you won't hear Benitez complaining about the players he's been left behind.

He knows what he's got to work with and will get on with it until Father Christmas gives him some cheques before January.